St. John’s wort is a plant with yellow flowers
whose medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. The name St. John’s
wort apparently refers to John the Baptist, as the plant blooms around the time
of the feast of St. John the Baptist in late June. Historically, St. John’s
wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders and nerve pain. St.
John’s wort has also been used for malaria, as a sedative, and as a balm for
wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, St. John’s wort is used as a folk or
traditional remedy for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.